“Oh?”
“Her name was Sophia,” I say gently.
Kane blinks in surprise.
“Your mother was the kindest, most motherly woman I have ever met. I wouldn’t have survived many days in that prison without her.”
“She was—in prison?”
“She was also experimented on with her twin sister, Story, by Crow Ivast.”
Kane parts his lips. “How old was she?”
“She was only fourteen when I met her,” I say, rubbing the exhaustion from my face. “But she was sixteen when I freed her and Jack, Skylenna’s father, from the prison.”
His chest rises and falls rapidly in surprise. “What was she like?”
And I tell him every detail I can remember. Hearing about his mother so young seems to repair a small, broken piece of his heart. About how badly she wanted a family. To be a mother.
After we get up to leave, I stop him.
“I know I’m not ready yet. I know it’ll take time to heal after all that’s happened. But one day, I’m going to come to you, and I’m going to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage. And by then, I hope I’ll be worthy of her.”
Kane wraps me in a big bear hug with a smile.
“You already are.”
Two years later, that’s exactly what I do.
And he says yes.
78. Our Home in The Red Oaks
Skylenna
Three Years Later
My screams go on formiles, scaring the birds from their nests.
My feet hit the ground in a panic as I sprint through the woods. My skin is still wet from the lagoon, sticking to my dry clothes.
Almost there.
I can hear the thundering footsteps behind me. As they catch up too fast, my pulse ruptures under my skin.
The trees open up to the purple lavender and swaying trees. Tall blades of grass dance. The spring sun beams over the opening in a cloudless sky.
I scream again as I can hear that voice gaining on me.
“NO!”
A large body plummets into my back and tackles me to the ground. Hands grip my sides and tickle the soft underside of my ribs until I’m bucking and shrieking in a delirious spell of laughter.
“You’re so slow!” I holler, turning my bright red face into an arm to bite.
“Slow?!” Kane barks out a laugh.
“Andold!”
